After a lengthy break over the festive season Combe returned to Goddington Dene looking to extend a 3 match winning streak. Both sides were somewhat flat in a first half littered with mistakes and interrupted by numerous infringements. Visitors Havant had marginally the better of the play and were benefiting from a lack of Combe discipline in the tackle and at the breakdown. This converted into points when Havant took the lead through Joel Knight’s boot to make it 0-3 after 15 minutes.

Combe went ahead despite going down to 14 men when lock Hugo McPherson broke through to feed Ben Fryatt. The move broke down but the ball was recycled for Sam Rhodes to score out wide. On the half hour mark Westcombe Park took a short line out and the maul was driven over for captain Nick Cook to score. Both conversions were missed so when Havant scored from a solid scrum through Harrison Young and conversion by Joel Knight the scores were level 10-10 at the half time whistle.

Havant edged ahead with a penalty from Knight’s accurate boot when the home side were pinged for kicking through the ruck.

Star player Ben Charnock then imposed himself on the game. His charge gobbled up ground allowing Matt Harrison to fizz the ball wide to Mikel Davies to score in the corner. Charnock then beat three opponents to kick through for Davies to score a second under the posts. The successful conversion by Nathan Wyman made it 27-13 but given the history between these two clubs a home win wasn’t a gimme. That win became a wee bit more certain when Charnock scored for himself. Clean line-out ball gave the no 8 a clear run for the line and there was no stopping his powerful charge.

The conversion by Wallace adding to a successful penalty a couple of minutes earlier made it 34-13 and although Havant scored a consolation try in the dying minutes through Alfie Wainscoat and another penalty from Knight, the Goddington Dene side deserved this bonus point victory to start off 2025 in winning fashion. Combe are on the road next Saturday with Oxford Harlequins the opponents.